What cal. target rifle?

[4570tc]

What caliber rifle do you shoot for offhand TARGET WORK out to 100 yds???

 

[BullRunBear]

An old T/C Renegade 50 cal. percussion with a GM barrel 32" and 1 in 66 twist.

I recently got a GPR flinter in 50 cal. but haven't had a chance to work up a 100 yard load yet, what with this lousy winter we had.

Jeff

 

[peter hawbaker]

I prefer .40

 

[grey8833]

I use .451 target rifle for most target work. 90 grain of 2f, a 525 grain, flat bottomed, grease grooved bullet. All weighed. Mostly shoot prone with a sling.

For offhand I use a .60 cal Hawken mounting a Goodoein barrel. 80 grain 2f, .600 round ball, .010 patch greased with mink oil.


Mike F

 

[nkbj]

Well, for stand up shooting it depends on how well the gun fits me. Frankly I've been tempted to find a used Traditions Deerhunter and have it rebarreled to a smaller caliber with a stepped down barrel and rework the stock to suit using a .39 bore running boar competition rifle as a model (proof positive that an octagonal barrel doesn't have to handle like a 1963 Chevolet truck jack). Then again, been threatening to make a smallbore flinter shotgun with a tapered 33" tube the same way. If I find a Deerhunter reckon I'd have to make up my mind.

 

[Tom Compton]

I found the .40 cal very useful. My preference is a longer sighting radius and barrel heavy therefore 7/8" straight X 42" barrel w/ 1-66 twist and deep rifling.

To me equally effective is a 1" .50 cal X 36" straight barrel. Both balance at or just in front of the entry thimble.

Which to use? if only paper and not too much wind, the .40 for sure. If windy or shooting silhouettes, the .50 would go. I have knocked down rams at 100 yards w/ 75 gr FF in the .40 but would prefer the .50 for that operation.

 

[mr.flintlock]

I shoot a 45 caliber early virgina rifle I built from a Jack Garner assembly. It has 42 inch X 13/16" across the flats G.M barrel. I shoot 60gr of GOEX at 25 and 50 yards and 70grs at 100 yards.
It has a large Siler flintlock and L&R doubble ser triggers.

 

[MikeChapin]

Many people prefer the .40 with a long barrel. the long barrel gives the rifle a good "hang" for offhand shooting and the .40 doesn't beat you to death with recoil if you shoot it all day.

I would prefer a long .45 for the same reasons. The reason I would prefer a .45 is that it would buck the wind a little better than a .40. It is a consideration out here.

Since I don't have a .45 I use a .50 for flint events and a .53 for many others. I'm large enough and the rifles are heavy enough that I don't get beat up with recoil shooting them all day.

 

[Walks Alone]

1st choice... 45 caliber CVA Mountain Rifle.
2nd... 50 TC Hawken set up with Lyman globe front/Lyman Adjustable Tang Vernier rear.
3rd... 36 TC Hawken set up with a 4X Navy Arms barrel length brass scope.

 

[Rat Trapper]

45 Caliber.

 

[rafterob]

If we are talking PRB, anywhere from .40 to.50, my preference at .50. If it's a .40 you want a longer barrel and a good charge to buck wind at 100 yards. My preference for .50 mainly stems from the fact I use Binoculars for spotting and anything smaller is hard to pick up at 100 yards. It is a .50 CVA Mtn. rifle.

 

[David W.]

It partly depends on what type target shooting you want to do. Generally, the larger the caliber, the less the wind will move the ball and will maintain velocity better at longer distances due to the weight. You can load to above speed of sound loads, but a round ball does not have a very good ballistical shape, so it will quickly slow down after leaving the barrel. If you are going to shoot bench rest shots, I would consider a chunk rifle. The longer the barrel the better since it will allow heavier powder charges and a longer sighting plane.

 

[stubshaft]

.45 Cal Vincent percussion rifle with a 40" barrel.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I prefer 45 my nephew and his boys shoot fourty's. But I admitt the best paper shooting gun (out to fifty yrds ) I ever shot was the 36 caliber cherokee I had for my youngest boy.

 

[Jim/OH]

I believe the .40 cal. is the best all around caliber for offhand target shooting. Since more of the targets are usually at 25 yds., with some at 50, and the least at 100 usually. The .40 doesn't do bad, even in a light wind at 100. Having said that, the rifle I shoot most in competition is a .36 flint. But must admit any wind is a problem with it at 100. On a calm day it is fine. If you expect to shoot more longer distances, then possibly go up to a .45. :thumbsup:
That's my opinion, and hope it helps, see ya, Jim/OH :hatsoff:

 

[El Lobo]

I use a .50 caliber Yorktown flintlock longrifle built by Brad Emig for my target shooting. I have found the .490 ball better than the smaller calibers at bucking the wind. Also, with the smaller calibers it is harder to tell if (and where) you hit a metal gong at 100 yards, especially if there are several shooters at the line. I started with a .54 but the .50 is more economical to shoot and the recoil is quite a bit less.

 

[Snakebite]

.54 in my custom Hawken.

 

[Paulussie0]

I prefer my Baumkircher .40 crosspatch underhammer
Beste result: 11 shots within 2 inch.

 

[longcruise]

Shooters that I talk to who own a dedicated target rifle seem favor .40. My guns are multi purpose, so there is no such thing as a "target rifle" in my rack. If I were to acquire a target rifle it would probably be a .50 just cause here in the west there can be some wind to deal with.